The dog’s owner, Gerald Wise, says he heard the gun shots when he was out looking for his dog, a one-year-old pit bull named Diesel, who had gone missing over the weekend—but did not realize the shots he heard was his neighbor shooting his own pet.

Diesel, the gray and white dog seen in this photo, was allegedly shot and killed by the family’s neighbor. (Source: Gerald Wise)

Instead of calling for police or medical assistance to aid the dog, authorities said Davis loaded the dog into a vehicle, drove about half-mile away and left the dog near a trash bin.

Authorities believe Diesel was still alive when Davis left him near the trash, but he was dead by the time he was found.

“We were devastated. This dog wouldn’t hurt a flea,” said Wise when they heard the news Sunday.

The shooting, however, was not reported until Sunday and Davis told investigators he shot the dog to protect his daughter.

“Pit bulls are often stereotyped and people see them and think they’re going to kill but they’re not like that,” said Grant Wise.

The Wise brothers can’t believe Diesel is gone, and say they want to see Davis prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Davis is out on bond Monday and has been charged with animal cruelty and the unlawful discharge of a firearm.